As a daily, would you go for a manual trans or the Nismo auto?

[Peteyboii]

I assumed all Zs are built in Japan. The dealer I purchased from specified that mine was built in Japan. I asked, some aren’t? He said some are built in US.

I don’t really care and didn’t look into it further but now that I’ve heard this twice…I’m curious where this info is coming from?

Dealer told me also some aren't, not sure why two dealers would "lie"
It doesn't matter it's just interesting

 

[Peteyboii]

Anyone saying these cars handle bad has never driven before. I've owned a boatload of cars and this car is a dream compared to my 2024 mustang.

Manual for the win always.

To me the base performance model handles like complete ass feels floaty etc that's why everyone adds sway bars etc

This is comparing to porsche 911 996 , lotus emira and Honda Accord Euro slammed tho

 

[Peteyboii]

Yea no one can answer this but you. There is no right or better answer.

My Z is my daily and an MT. I got it specifically because i wanted another MT daily. I actually hate AT for daily because it makes driving less engaging so id just be bored more often.

But that doesn't mean anything is wrong with someone preferring AT themselves in any situation.

I've been telling myself this too haha daily drives need to be fun

 

[Peteyboii]

Update: drove a manual Nissan z today and stalled 4 times at the lights lmao. Had to swap with test drive guy, outside of that my driving was smooth

Anyone find the bite point hard or weird to get used too? I know this is likely just growing pains of a manual but I never stalled the other cars I practiced on (lotus emira Porsche 911) I think the bite point on those is lower perhaps or I have no idea but when I let go of the clutch in the Z I have to be much slower / smoother in the middle point for the car to not kind of "lurch forward" when I release the clutch

I know you can adjust the bite point but I have not tried does anyone else adjust theirs to make it easier ?

It almost felt as if my knee had to be very bent over the clutch and always go to neutral at lights to not get tired haha (I did have surgery thru left groin recently)

 

[kevinbonds]

Update: drove a manual Nissan z today and stalled 4 times at the lights lmao. Had to swap with test drive guy, outside of that my driving was smooth

Anyone find the bite point hard or weird to get used too? I know this is likely just growing pains of a manual but I never stalled the other cars I practiced on (lotus emira Porsche 911) I think the bite point on those is lower perhaps or I have no idea but when I let go of the clutch in the Z I have to be much slower / smoother in the middle point for the car to not kind of "lurch forward" when I release the clutch

I know you can adjust the bite point but I have not tried does anyone else adjust theirs to make it easier ?

It almost felt as if my knee had to be very bent over the clutch and always go to neutral at lights to not get tired haha (I did have surgery thru left groin recently)

This is user error on your part, an experienced manual driver can get in any manual trans car and not stall, the Z has a very easy to modulate clutch and is easy to drive.

 

[Dan in Austin]

This is user error on your part, an experienced manual driver can get in any manual trans car and not stall, the Z has a very easy to modulate clutch and is easy to drive.

While I can't speak to the clutch on the Z, as an experienced manual driver I can attest that I have stalled cars that were not my own when driving them initially. After driving my manual Honda for 10+ years (and other manual cars for years before then), I stalled a Cayman when test driving it. It happens. Every model is different, and it takes some getting used to.

 

[kevinbonds]

While I can't speak to the clutch on the Z, as an experienced manual driver I can attest that I have stalled cars that were not my own when driving them initially. After driving my manual Honda for 10+ years (and other manual cars for years before then), I stalled a Cayman when test driving it. It happens. Every model is different, and it takes some getting used to.

It's never happened to me, much less four times, and at a traffic light, so I stand by my original post, the poster who keeps stalling the Z, it's user error, not an issue with the Z.

 

[CPerdomo]

I stalled a car once in the 80's when I tried a Porsche. That was because the pedal came from the bottom, making it weird. But once I restarted the car, I more than vindicated myself by taking off strong and fast.

 

[trackratZ]

While I can't speak to the clutch on the Z, as an experienced manual driver I can attest that I have stalled cars that were not my own when driving them initially. After driving my manual Honda for 10+ years (and other manual cars for years before then), I stalled a Cayman when test driving it. It happens. Every model is different, and it takes some getting used to.

Yep, each car model has unique clutch action, and you can adjust more quickly with some. Across the makes, my current Cayman S, NC Miata and prev E46 M3, were all easier to adjust to quickly. The Z is good but like my old G35S, the 6 speed's clutch is about mid level at engagement, it is a tad harder to 'find' the bite point, but after driving it a bit, no issues, should not stall. Just not as intuitive.

 

[Apex_Z]

I have the manual so my vote is obvious. If I have any gripe its the rev hang (revs want to stay up when you let off to shift) but you get used to timing it. The trans shifts nice and positive, the clutch is light and predictable.

 

[RedAustinIX]

I agree that the Z's clutch takes a bit to get used to. I never stalled my Evo in the 12 years I owned it, but I've stalled the Z several times (usually on hills). It just takes practice, and now I'm much smoother/able to control it the way I want. I wouldn't worry about it, and definitely not a reason to not get the manual.

Oh - strange, but I found a louder exhaust also helps a lot with driving the manual smoothly.

 

[CPerdomo]

I agree that the Z's clutch takes a bit to get used to. I never stalled my Evo in the 12 years I owned it, but I've stalled the Z several times (usually on hills). It just takes practice, and now I'm much smoother/able to control it the way I want. I wouldn't worry about it, and definitely not a reason to not get the manual.

Oh - strange, but I found a louder exhaust also helps a lot with driving the manual smoothly.

I had to change the exhaust on my manual performance so that I could manage the clutch better. To not having to rev the engine too much. It helped because I could hear the engine and give a smooth take off.

 

[Murix]

If the manual Nismo was avaiable when I bought my NIsmo, I probably would have bought that, But as it is, I like the auto for the better gearing and quicker shifting. It is a shame modern autos have better gearing than manuals these days.

I also own two other cars with a manual, including my daily driver. I think at this poiint, I like manual on the street for engagement and auto on the track for performance,

The moral of the story is there is no answer. Get what you want.

 

[alienpoker]

My .02 - I think the trans expects more of a ‘no lift shift’ meaning you don’t completely release the accelerator. That’s my experience anyway, once you try that at speed, suddenly you ‘get it’ and you can shift more easily at lower speeds.

Most people are used to releasing the gas pedal completely, and it’s a hard habit to break. You get much less ‘lurching’ and stalls if you do it the way I suggest.

As others have mentioned, the Z bite point is also tricky. Changing the flywheel (to lighter) or clutch return spring (to not as strong) may make it easier to feel. Apologies if you understand this already.

Rev match (S) only affects downshifting, again this is in my experience. It won’t rev match for you going 2nd to 3rd for example. I dk why anyone would want to go 2nd to 1st. I’d just slam in the clutch, slow down and when you want to go again… give it the beanz in 2nd.

 

[HWill]

If you want to be fast at the drag or stop light to stop light then get the Auto. It you want to have fun shifting gears get the Manual.

I went from an Auto 24 Mustang GT to a Manual 25 Performance Z. Having had a few fast Autos, I wanted to get back into a Manual. The Z is one of the easiest cars I have driven that was a Manual. The clutch is alittle stiffer than some, the shifter is pretty nice for stock. This is the first car I haven't wanted to swap to a short throw shifter.

I would not suggest anyone new to driving a manual to not release the gas pedal completely.
If you are stalling or lurching it is because you are not coming off the clutch smoothly or too fast.